By Abby Luciano, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter NORTH SHORE NEWS
Mark Smith has had a lot of courage throughout his life.
He took a leap trying stand-up comedy to face his fears of public speaking. More than two decades later, Smith has toured festivals across the Lower Mainland spreading joy and laughter to people.
But the North Vancouver comedian also took courage in another way — celebrating his recovery daily for the past 11 years.
He took his passion for comedy and recovery to create Stand Up For Recovery, a night of comedians and musicians bringing people together to celebrate recovery and healing, taking place this Saturday evening at the North Shore Alano Club.
“If you put your recovery first, everything else will work out,” Smith said. “Comedy is a passion of mine that I just love and enjoy, so it became a no-brainer to put together Stand Up For Recovery.”
Also a full-time carpenter, Smith will host Saturday’s show. The night will start off with a dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m. As more people trickle in, there will be “welcoming music,” with the night kicking off with rapper KeHill, who has been performing since the first showcase, Smith said.
Comedians from across the world will take this year’s stage, including U.S. comedian Dino Archie, New Zealander Sophia Johnson and Canadian jokester Amber Harper-Young. Newcomer comedian Kevin Smith will also take part, following up his appearance at the 2024 show.
The show is open for all walks of life to attend, Smith said. More than 25 per cent of the seating will be alloted to local recovery home clients for free to give them a chance to check out the show.
“The key factor for the show is to bring people that are new in recovery into a safe space where they can find joy and laughter, and be with the community that understands where they’ve been, and what they’re going through,” Smith said.
“When you’re in addiction, whatever it may look like, it’s isolation,” he added. “It’s a very dark place, and it’s a very lonely place, and you feel like nobody understands you, and that can be devastating to the soul.”
The North Shore Alano Club, where the show will be, is a non-profit charity that focuses on supporting people in recovery through meetings and events since the early 1970s. The club holds more than 30 meetings a week.
He emphasizes it’s important to take recovery one day or moment at a time.
Smith has seen the show grow from its first gig in February 2020, then moving online through Zoom before heading back in person last year. He’s thankful to see how far it’s come, he said.
But the show is not just for entertainment, there will be an opportunity for people from the crowd to take the stage and crack some jokes if they wish, Smith said.
“These shows give people a little glimmer of light. Laughter is .125an.375 amazing cure, laughter gives hope,” Smith said.
Moving forward, he hopes to expand his shows to other cities in the Lower Mainland.
“What we’re sharing is a message to the community that this is possible. Not only is recovery possible, but a positive lifestyle and a healthy lifestyle can happen for anybody. Plus we’re having fun doing it.”
Stand Up For Recovery happens at North Vancouver’s North Shore Alano Club, 2nd Street East, Saturday, Jan. 25, 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $20 on Admitone
